Time to train plan could hit pubs
Small businesses could face the heavy hand of Government regulation yet again if they are forced to undertake formal meetings with employees who request time off to train.
Time to train? Staff could request time off
A new consultation from the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills recommends giving employees the right to request time off to train.
But the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) is pushing for an exemption for small businesses (1-20 employees) to be able to hold informal one-on-one meetings without the need for a union representative.
“The ‘time to train’ process is too expensive and too bureaucratic for small firms as it stands and the FSB is concerned that the employee’s right to request a meeting to discuss time off to train will not only lead to an extra layer of bureaucracy, but will also lead to panic amongst small businesses that a refusal could be interpreted as constructive dismissal," said FSB education and skills chairman Colin Willman.
“We believe the best way to engage small businesses with the policy are to keep it informal between employer and employee, making it easier to identify the necessary training.”
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